Is article writing the same as blog post writing?

This is a semantic problem that I couldn't work out when I started out. I would frantically fill article directories with great articles not realising what a waste that could be.

Most of my articles now go on my own websites/blogs.

I used to think it was better to put them on article directories.

Now I much prefer the direct search engine traffic that comes from having lots of good quality content (articles) on my own online real estate

Richard, I think of the two as similar, but not the same. Much like siblings in a family.

'Article writing' tends to focus on either clicks or "link juice" via keyword links.

You can certainly post this type of article on a blog with good results (assuming the article itself is good).

But 'blog post writing' can serve the additional functions of encouraging user feedback (and content generation) via comments, plus luring outside links to the post.

On your blog, you can usually get away with mixing and matching your objectives with each post. In other words, some posts will ask questions or take positions to encourage conversation. These are usually fairly short, so the potential for inbound links depends on the comment activity for both keyword content and link-worthiness. Others will exist for the purpose of drawing inbound links. Linkbait posts will tend to be longer and more complete, getting their power from inbound links. Most of the comments will be trackbacks or attaboys, adding little to the actual conversation.

Obviously, these are generalizations. On the whole, though, I think good blog post writing is more varied than straight article writing...